Dumpster dogs survived on moose

The BC SPCA came to the rescue of two heeler-cross dogs on Tuesday evening (Jan. 22) after being tipped off that the dogs had been inside a large dumpster for several days in freezing temperatures on a reserve outside of Williams Lake.

Kent Kokoska, a senior animal protection officer for the BC SPCA who rescued the two dogs, says the animals survived by feeding on a moose carcass that was also in the dumpster.

“The dogs were taken immediately for veterinary care,” says Kokoska. “The male had an untreated ear injury that had become infected and required more than 24 stitches and the female is being treated with antibiotics for a stomach ailment, possibly due to the consumption of the moose meat. They were very cold and scared when I found them, but both dogs are doing extremely well now.” The two dogs are being cared for at the Williams Lake SPCA branch and will be available for adoption soon.

While the rescue involved the unenviable task of crawling through rotting garbage and decaying moose flesh in the pitch dark, Kokoska says he was just happy to have reached the dogs in time.

“I’m not sure how much longer they would have lasted. It was freezing and they certainly had no way of escaping the dumpster by themselves.”

He says it is unclear whether the dogs fell over the side of the container or were dumped by humans, but notes that dead dogs have been found in the same dumpster in the past.

The BC SPCA carries out more than 6,000 animal cruelty investigations each year and cares for nearly 30,000 abused and homeless animals.